Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa
University of Iowa at Liberty Square
119 2nd Street, Suite 400, Coralville, IA 52241

History

The Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa uses the diffusion of innovation model to reach infants who are hospitalized and/or live in Iowa. While the program originated at the UI Children’s Hospital, its range of operation extends statewide.

To facilitate the milk bank program expansion, funds were awarded from 2007 to 2009 by the Iowa General Assembly.

Milk collection depots are being established across Iowa to enhance donor milk delivery and to increase donor participation and donation (see Support Options and Sponsors Section).

The Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa, born during World Breast Feeding Week in August 2002, was co-founded by Jean Drulis and Ekhard Ziegler, MD, in the UI Division of Pediatric Nutrition, UI Carver College of Medicine.

Pooled donor human milk was first pasteurized in December 2002.

Feeding donor human milk in the UI Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) began in May 2003.

In March 2006, the milk bank program directed by Jean Drulis, joined the UI Department of Food and Nutrition Services.

Two months later, feeding donor human milk in the UI Mother/Baby Unit began.

Donor human milk was then fed to UI infants hospitalized in other areas.

It is not well known that infants living at home are eligible. Donor milk was first prescribed to an Iowa City infant in December 2004, and a few months later to an infant in Des Moines.

Donor human milk is most frequently used by hospitals; however, home orders are increasing.

Many UI insurance policies cover donor human milk dispensed to infants at home.

Purpose

The purpose of the Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa is to provide donor human milk to premature and term infants in Iowa. Indications for its use are:

• Hospitalized premature infants
• Infants born with immunological defects
• Insufficient milk supply
• Adopted infants
• Mother illness requiring brief cessation of breast feeding

Goal

The goal is for Iowa to become the first state where all premature infants are fed human milk. Having donor milk available at Iowa hospitals ensures that these vulnerable infants receive human milk when mother’s own is not quite enough.